The fire has killed at least 17 people and police expect the death toll to rise. Hundreds have been left homeless and many remain missing, with firefighters saying they do not expect to find any more survivors.

Firefighters were at the scene within minutes and worked long shifts to save as many as they could from the burning 24-storey tower.

But the capital lost 600 firefighter jobs and 10 fire stations while Johnson was London Mayor.

LFB data later showed response times had risen in more than half of London’s wards, which Labour blamed on Johnson’s cuts.

In 2013, then-London Mayor Johnson was asked about the cut while under questioning from London Assembly members at City Hall.

Boris Johnson, then Mayor of London, telling London Assembly member to 'get stuffed' in response to questions on cuts in fire service, 2013 pic.twitter.com/SUiwN4LzaF

Boris said efforts to “reduce deaths from fire and continuing to reduce the incidents of fire” would offset the impact of the cuts.

Dinsmore said: “You’ve lied to the people of London in your election.”

Johnson then said: “Oh, get stuffed.”

He was then forced to withdraw the remark and apologise.

The clip began circulating after the Grenfell fire, with anger growing after Johnson, now foreign secretary, tweeted: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone caught up in the horrific towerblock fire in London.”